Picture Overload...

 

 

Colton is totally into selfies right now. It's pretty funny. He'll just point at the phone and say "cheese...cheese" who am I to say no? Shoot I just put on a Braves hat and played along...as I was looking through the (lots and lots and lots...) of pics from the week I found the one of him and Grama at church, I guess he's got her around his finger too...we knew that!

Baton Rouge oh my goodness the boys has so much fun from the time we walked into the hotel

And that Huge kiddie pool, it was dream! All 1 ft deep. 6 fountains and so much fun! Isaac and Cannon were making deals about getting to go swimming at dinner Friday night--then Grama let them wade a little and get a taste of how fun it was while we headed to the temple. The temple was why we went and it was wonderful! So nice to enjoy the spirit there while grama had her hands full! When we got done I got a text from Grama that said "Don't be thinking Diffi-Colt is asleep!" haha poor Grama was run ragged and Cannon being the "helper" was just getting Colt more wound up. Oh well! Anyway- Saturday morning 7:00 sure enough Isaac and Cannon headed down to the pool.Thank Heaven too because once they left Colt stayed asleep for another hour and a half! It was a bit of a rough night. Colt's first night in a big boy bed (he and Cannon slept on the sofa hide-a-bed thing) but when I heard crash of him hitting the floor in middle of the night I was up in a flash and...then it was all 3 of us on that hide-a-bed. Sleep didn't happen much, not for me anyway. I had put pillows down and that's what he landed on but I just couldn't deal with the thought of him falling again. Anyway at 8:30 when Cannon and Isaac came back Colt was stirring and woke right up. He saw Cannon in his swimming suit and wanted to go!!! Isaac said "He doesn't know Cannon got to go." I said "Bologna!" And I agreed to take Colt down there. We stopped and ate breakfast but then boy did we have fun. When I saw Cannon looking down at us from the room window I called Isaac and said "this is too fun, does he want to come back down" really he wanted a silky cuz he was so tired but at the mention of coming back down he decided that sounded fun and we had a great time. Then we packed up and headed to New Orleans. I think Cannon was asleep before we pulled out of the parking lot! Good thing we found him that silky!

New Orleans, and the French Quarter: make "quarter" sound like "corridor" when you pronounce it and you'll sound like they pronounce it...its crazy! Should I admit to having been confused?...probably not...oh well. We had a good time. It's an interesting mix! What about that disgusting thing down in the bottom left corner of the next collage? Its just gross, I liked both my boys faces--get me out of here!!

I love it when Grama's there to get  a couple pics of the whole family :) Right after we took these Cannon pics we were walking in front of the cathedral and some...less than clean looking...is that a nice way to say it??? Street vendor guy walked up Cannon and Isaac and said "Lets get you a balloon." Or something like that I was back a little ways but obviously with them walking holding Colts hand. I didn't hear what Isaac said but they just kept walking and that ornery less than clean person came up to me and snarled "If your broke stay home!" Colt and I just kept walking but when I got to Isaac I asked  "What did you say to that guy?" and he said "No thank you!" in his typical cheery voice, of course that's what he said and how he said it I shouldn't have had to ask. So then I told him what the guy had said to me and he said "hmm you should have reminded him that he was the one wanting money-not us." Haha. I thought it was kind a funny.
Isaac and Cannon ended up going up ahead and finding a ship. They were pretty excited but because of the weather they weren't doing tours any more. (we totally got caught in a torrential downpour shortly after) But we jumped on the trolley (such a rip off...they could have mentioned it was the next to last stop and you HAD to get off you couldn't just ride back the other way) anyway but worth our 3.75 rip off because A: We got another family picture :) (which I've uploaded NO LESS than 4 times and it still won't rotate and go on right so I'm putting it on anyway and I'll deal with it later-so dumb! --"Mom, don't say dumb" even when Cannon's not here his voice is in my ear, he's like my conscience.)

 

Anyway the other reason it was great B: was we met these cute sailors, who told us that they served on the USS WASP which was at port a little ways down the river (at the other END of the trolley line) and was way bigger than the battle ship Isaac and Cannon had been looking at. Needless to say they were sold! Me, not so much. It was already past nap time and Colt was getting whiner and clingier and it was past lunch time too but I didn't want to get ripped off (I hate that-even though Grama was happy to buy-I didn't want her to get ripped off either.) But even whiny clingy Colt jumped on the band wagon as soon as he heard the word "Boat! Boat! Boat!" Soooo I was out numbered, we got back on the trolley and rode to the other end and got a bite to eat  waiting and hoping the storm would  blow over and they would start doing tours again. It did! (I found out later it was actually Fleet week this past week in N.O.) Anyway the important part of the story is that I totally ate crow! That ship was AWESOME! Totally the highlight for (all 3) of my boys of going to New Orleans. And I was impressed too. The boys got to crawl all over all kinds of big tanks and stuff (even down in one they weren't supposed to-whoops-) a hovercraft, helicopters up on the landing deck. It was really REALLY cool!  The soldiers where absolutely darling with the boys too! And now when Cannon sees the pictures he says "Those are the guys that keep our country safe."

 

Picture overload I know...but it was SO AWESOME, Maybe I should've made collages but I didn't.

Now at first glance this next one might not seem cool but that was the door to the hovercraft and one of the Soldiers let them watch a movie of it going from water to land on his phone. It was just cool. 

 Can you read Colt's lips? "Copter!"

 

The ONLY bad thing was once we were on that ship both my boys were ready to go! They didn't really grasp the idea of "at port" and thought we were going to get to go somewhere for sure!
We had to get one last pic with the Brits too. These guys were from Britain's Royal Navy and their ship was docked just down the way. Cannon was being shy guy. He missed out.

So it was a fun little trip and a fun weekend. But I'm not done...
Sunday I got a picture of Cannon with Elder Cannon and he gave him this book for when he's a little older written by George Q. Cannon. It has the sweetest little note to Cannon in it too. He's such a nice guy.

Tuesday we had to take Grama back but were were in pretty good spirits knowing we were going that way in just six days :)! We got some visiting teaching done and went and watch one of my primary kids play baseball. It was fun but kind of late and pretty dang COLD. 

Wednesday I don't have a picture for but WEDNESDAY WAS HUGE!

Isaac successfully defended his dissertation proposal! YAY! WAHOO!! YIPEE!! CONGRATS ISAAC. We're NOT DONE yet. But this is such a big hurdle to have crossed. And really we were hoping to defend in January or February...silly us. But we're just SO THANKFUL he is finally able to move forward! I guess the norm around here is that the proposal is a big deal-like my understanding is pretty much just as bid of deal as the final defense. But we're gathering it might not be like that everywhere...the new dean here is like "just get it (the proposal) done, the data analysis is where the rubber really meets the road." So who knows but at least we're able to move on to that Data Analysis phase.

Which Brings us to Thursday...

When Isaac decided to head back to Utah to work on his Data Analysis with a professor he me there last year! For...who knows how long?!?! He says not as long as last summer. I should be really excited but I'm kind of like, wait, whoa, what, we're going again? And he's Mr. Roll with it. And I'm Mrs. Try to tie up loose ends. For one thing the boys and I were going Monday anyway, but now we're going drive with him. I wasn't worried about it because I bought trip flex. That used to mean I could change the tickets all I wanted...but not anymore they switched it "as of March 12" I bought my tickets March 26 but I'd been looking at them for a month. UGG So frustrating. Now I could only change them once. But I don't know what to change them to, I don't know how long we're going to be gone. We ended up eating some of it but oh well. Isaac gets to come with us-totally worth it! (That drive's going to be miserable and all day Cannon's birthday :( but we'll survive and we'll party before and after)

Today we snuck in one last play date with Jenna and her kids--I'm kinda heartbroken. She's become such a good friend. Between them moving, who knows when for sure but there house is in the process of selling and that poor girl-her life is more in limbo than mine! But anyway with them going and us going for who knows how long but then ultimately to Missouri I'm kind-a heartbroken at the thought of losing our friends. We love them!

 

Isaac took BOTH boys to fathers and sons so this post is really so ridiculously long because tonight I'm totally flying solo! And JCPenny clearance rack could only keep me busy for so long. Plus we're going to have to move everything I buy so I kept the brakes on. Actually I went in several stores and just peacefully looked around cuz I could :) But now its just me and the computer and too many pictures.  Hopefully he'll have some pictures for me next week but too but this is all I've got so far...

 

 And I finally got it rotate!! Maybe it just didn't like that spot!

Grama is Here

Oh we're pretty happy around here. Grama's here! YAY!!

(Some how I did that old trick where I put the pictures on and type a bunch and don't save it-pretty frustrating-but oh well, it is what it is, ya get what ya get :) it was better though.) Last week I forgot the pictures from our swimming adventure

 

We barely got in then had to get back out because of thunder (indoor pool?) but after 20 minutes they let us back in but... it was still thundering...maybe they couldn't hear it over Colt's squeals of delight, he loves the water!
Saturday we were trying for a family bike ride -Colt loved it Cannon was kind of a chicken (he gets that from me) poor kid.

Then went to a birthday party for one of the missionaries 

Then somehow we survived Sunday and Monday and waiting for Grama and hoping we every single plane we heard was hers ;) -a went on a walk as a family, tidied up a bit, then just waited it out at the park (and got to play with our friends)

and Tuesday Grama came, YAY!!!!

I really don't have very many pictures--I'm mean compared to my version of normal. But we've just had fun, nothing too out of the ordinary but just fun. (And I tell ya Grama's two extra hands when we venture out and about...AWESOME!!!)

 

Above is Cannon's favorite goose. He named him Igloo??? So random.
Grama brought me these awesome Gerber Daisey's. I love them. While looking for the perfect vase for them I stumbled on to more of those $2 Grab bags at Michaels (yes we went back in that store even after breaking the mason jar...but I did have Grandma's extra hands) anyway those silly grab bags are loaded with goodies (Easter this time) now now tucked nicely away in my holiday box-so its kind-of like we're not going to have to move more junk, we are taking those boxes anyway :) so anyway we got this new Easter basket in one of them and Cannon plopped it on his Head and said "I'm the queen!" Whaaaat? Whatever, I did what I always do-laughed and took a picture.

Hey most important- we're having fun, we love it!
We are headed to Baton Rouge and the Temple today and New Orleans tomorrow. We figure Grama won't be coming to the South to visit anymore so we better give'r the full experience this go around right? Just kidding, not like we're really much in the way of tourists but I think we'll probably try to hit the French Quarter (we've never been.)

We have a new niece --no pics yet--Aaron and Tarra had their baby girl Trevyn.

And we think we're seeing some progress and blessings with Isaac's dissertation. We're very grateful (and we're still keeping the pedal to the metal as far as prayers go!)

Check out this little video I found about Kirksville! Kind of exciting right?

The first time I watched it when all the other related videos pop up and they were all about tornadoes. Crud....so...yeah lets just leave that at that, but another time I watched it none of them were about tornadoes-We'll pray for the best
Would you believe me if I told you the week after Isaac accepted a job has actually been more stressful than the weeks preceding? I would not have-if I hadn't lived it. Its crazy, it's been so frustrating  with all of his work on his dissertation, he's worked so long and so hard and he wants to make progress but (I'm softening this from what I first wrote) its slow going though. Isaac handles things very well. (Me? Maybe not--good thing its him!) But its like now that we have a job just let us get done and move forward. Having a job lined up has just heightened my awareness of the slow  progress. Isaac's is busting his tail, but there's a process that has to take place and its a long and slow one. I don't get it but, whatever, so frustrating. BUT this week I had a horrible dream. It was terrible, and the bottom line was in it Cannon was lost. In my dream I prayed and I was like "Heavenly Father please, I know I've been pleading for things with this stupid dissertation but I don't care, all I care about is my little boy, that we can find him and he'll be safe..." anyway then shortly after I woke up to Cannon's little voice I was SO RELIEVED it was just a dream, and that it wasn't real. I just wanted to hold him ~he wasn't really going for it~ but still he was there and he was fine and I was so grateful. But in the end I felt like that dream really helped me perspective wise. So what! About any of this other stress and nonsense, family is what's important!!  So ironically this week I'm extra thankful for a really bad dream. It's been a good thing, I'm pretty sure I was getting pretty close to imploding!

Last week I took a pic of Colt, undies around his ankles running off with the soccer potty...it didn't make the blog last week because he never actually used the potty. Just sat on it a few times and carried it around. But now he has!!! Don't be thinking he's getting anywhere near trained but I'm going for good positive experiences here. So if he wakes up dry we head right to the pot, he's been doing really good right when he wakes up in the morning or after naps, other than that NO success!  But whatever. He just looks at me and grabs the front of his pants when they're wet...again! I've been trying to let him wear undies when we're just hang'n around the house,  I know he's not really ready yet but if I could rush him just a little and have accidents that were going to happen be here-on this carpet that we're leaving behind (They totally need to replace it before anyone else moves in anyway) I just think that would be ideal. So here's to hoping... Oh and that tablet bribe....they love it--of course Cannon the potty coach right by his side ;)

Saturday Isaac went into work but we still made a good fun day out of it. We met him for a picnic lunch at the Ag museum (we always find something new there too) This time they got to pet a baby chick.

One of the senior missionary couples here has the last name Cannon. So Elder Cannon calls Cannon "Cousin" its pretty cute. But they live at Windsor Lake so we told Cannon we might have to call Ayla's ducks the Cannon's ducks, his eyes lit up and he said "They're Cannon ducks?" Anyway Saturday afternoon we fed them and made a quick little park run. We felt like we had a fun little Saturday even though dad went to work. Cannon had more fun feeding peoples dogs than the ducks but whatever-all the same.

 

 

As for the week ...we caught the park and story time with friends on Wednesday. We went to the park a couple other times too, its been rainy, my boys love puddles...a little too much...while watching them like a hawk they did pretty good just sticking their bats in the puddles--but then my phone rang and they could just sense I was distracted-it was a disaster especially since we don't even have an outside hose. But actually I stripped them down before we even got in the car. A hose STILL would have been nice. OH well. These are obviously the "before" pictures.

Thursday we finally met up with the Crowders for a little play date! Cannon has been obsessed with their giant military jet ever since we went to their house so Beth loaded it up and brought it over. So sweet! And it was super fun to chat. Ironically I only got pictures of Colton with it. But its pretty cool they love it.

 

Today was highlighted by a trip to Michael's because the t-shirts we make the "Primary Shirts" out of were on sale. Colt grabbed a Mason Jar and threw it on the floor-it was super embarrassing.  The crash echoed throughout the whole store and there were 3 workers there cleaning it up within seconds. They were really nice but I couldn't get out of there fast enough!

And a random collage to wrap up the rest of the week-we like to have fun!